01Hot
- Amount
- 2.5 g (1 level tsp)
- Water
- 250 ml, freshly boiled, 100°C
- Time
- 2 minutes
Strain and taste black first. Add leaf for more body next time.
Black Tea
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Emperor Butterfly Lapsang Souchong
Pine smoke, a rich black tea base and a long finish. One for the campfire enthusiasts.
- Caffeine
- Contains caffeine
- Brew
- 1 tsp · 100°C · 2 min
- Milk
- Milk optional
- Best
- Cold evening, by the fire
Regular price
£6.15
Regular price
Sale price
£6.15
Taxes included.
Shipping calculated at checkout.
- Packed by hand in Huddersfield
- Packed by our Huddersfield team
- Free UK delivery from £35
Which size should I choose?
50gTry it first, or keep a few different teas open.
100gA sensible everyday pouch for most tea drinkers.
200g+Best when it is already part of your tea shelf.
Quantity
One-time purchase is the default. If you choose a subscription, orders repeat at your selected frequency. Read the cancellation policy
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Is this your cup?
Anyone who loves the smell of a bonfire, smoked cheese or peaty whisky.
Perhaps not if smoke isn't for you. Try Golden Heaven Yunnan →
Good together
Postage & the practical bits.
We hand-pack your order in Huddersfield. Free standard UK delivery from £35. Delivery options and charges are confirmed at checkout.
Emperor Butterfly Lapsang Souchong
Pine-smoked black tea
Tea by the fireside.
Black Tea
Emperor Butterfly Lapsang Souchong leads with pine smoke, then settles into a rounded black tea body and a long, warming finish.
Campfire character without losing the tea beneath it.
- Character
- Pine · smoke · malt
- Water
- 100°C
- Time
- 2 minutes
Smoked black tea from China
Campfire smoke you can drink
A bold, pine-smoked black tea for anyone who loves the smell of a bonfire, a good peat-forward whisky or a slab of smoked cheese. Not subtle, not sorry.
- Origin
- China
- Caffeine
- Contains caffeine
- Milk?
- Optional splash
- Best time
- Cold evenings
The story
Why the smoke sits proudly at the front
Lapsang souchong is the original smoked black tea, born in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian province. The leaves are dried over pinewood fires, absorbing resinous smoke that stays with them from pot to cup. Emperor Butterfly takes that tradition and turns up the dial: this is lapsang for people who want smoke in charge, not lurking politely in the background.
In the cup you get bold pine and campfire notes straight away, then a dark malty body that gives the smoke something to grip onto. The finish lingers and warms, the kind that makes you pause and notice it. A small splash of milk rounds the edges if you like, though it drinks well black too.
It suits a cold evening, a fireside armchair, a slow hour with no plans. If you already enjoy peaty Scotch, smoked paprika or bacon cooked over embers, this tea speaks the same language. If smoke is not your thing, look elsewhere and feel no guilt.
How to brew it
How to brew it properly
02With milk
- Amount
- 2.5 g (1 level tsp)
- Water
- 250 ml, freshly boiled, 100°C
- Time
- 2–3 minutes
A small splash of milk softens the smoke without hiding it.
03Second steep
- Amount
- Same leaves
- Water
- 250 ml, freshly boiled, 100°C
- Time
- 3 minutes
Smoke mellows a little; malt comes forward.
Shop tip: Store the pouch well away from lighter teas in your cupboard; the smoky aroma likes to travel.
Made for moments like
By the fire
Feet up, flames low, a good book going nowhere fast. This is the tea for that.
After a cold walk
Muddy boots at the door, proper chill in your bones. The warming finish earns its keep.
Whisky lover's nightcap
All the campfire comfort, none of the hangover. Pairs well with your favourite armchair.
Lovely withSmoked cheese on oatcakesDark chocolate with sea saltA bacon sandwich, obviouslyStrong aged cheddarPeaty single malt, side by side
Weighing it up?
Not quite what you’re after? Try these.
Russian CaravanChoose Russian Caravan if you want smoke blended softer with malty black teas.From £4.15
Weaver's BlendChoose Weaver's Blend for a local twist with oolong alongside the smoke.From £4.15
Golden Heaven YunnanChoose Golden Heaven Yunnan for cocoa depth without any smoke at all.From £4.60
Good questions
Things people ask us in the shop
How smoky is Emperor Butterfly compared to other lapsang souchongs?
It sits at the bolder end. The smoke is meant to lead, not follow. If you want a gentler introduction, Russian Caravan blends lapsang with unsmoked black teas and takes the edge off.
Does it need milk?
Not at all, but a small splash rounds the smoke nicely without burying it. Try it black first and see what you prefer.
How many cups will I get from a 50 g pouch?
At the suggested 2.5 g per cup, a 50 g pouch makes about 20 cups. Enough to know whether bold smoke is for you.
How should I store it?
Keep it sealed, cool and dry, and well away from delicate teas. The smoky aroma mingles easily with neighbours in the cupboard.
Is it caffeinated?
Yes, it is a black tea and naturally contains caffeine. No specific milligram count is available for this batch.
Full product details
Emperor Butterfly Lapsang Souchong is for drinkers who want the smoke clearly in front. Porter Hill describes pine and campfire notes over a rounded, malty black-tea body, with a long warming finish.
Pine smoke · Malty · Warming
Is it for you?
Choose it if smoky food, a peat-forward whisky or the smell of a bonfire sounds appealing. If you want a gentler introduction to smoky tea, compare Russian Caravan; if you dislike smoke altogether, choose an unsmoked black tea.
Ingredients
Smoked black tea.
The current specification does not identify the estate, cultivar, harvest, smoke wood or smoking stage, so we do not make those batch-level claims here.
Brewing guide
- Amount: 2.5 g per 250 ml (about one level teaspoon)
- Water: freshly boiled, 100°C
- Time: 2 minutes to begin
Strain and taste it black. For more body, add a little more leaf next time before extending the infusion. A small splash of milk can round the smoke.
Pack choice and storage
A 50 g pouch makes about 20 cups at the stated recipe and is the sensible first buy for this deliberately polarising style. Keep it sealed, cool, dry and away from delicate teas so the smoky aroma does not mingle in the cupboard.
This black tea naturally contains caffeine, but no batch-specific milligrams are available. Read the full Emperor Butterfly Lapsang Souchong guide for troubleshooting and comparisons.
Ready to light the fire?
Free UK delivery on orders over £35.
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